cleo6666

I am PBing and sliming Occasionally now (maybe 1-2 times a week) and it's been 4 months since my surgery. My friends are very worried that I am going to ruin my band if I don't stop. I don't do it on purpose. Any suggestions? Thanks. M

Yo Kev, I hear you about the spouse thing. My spouse and son eat like crazy. I'm jealous, but they don't have the same health goals as I do. It's kinda sad because my husband loves to cook for me and he's sad that I can't eat any of his yummy treats. Everything meat gets stuck. He cooked me tomato basil soup a couple of weeks ago and now he's talking about making me a crab soup. He is so sweet. I've been drinking lots of water today and it's a good thing no one is counting my trips to the WC. I'd have to take a second lunch on my time sheet. Enjoy the holiday and thank you and everyone for your support. I really appreciate it! Yo-Cleo

Ditto to Teri's comment! YOU are GORGEOUS! I'm curious...how old were you when you had your surgery? How much did you loose total and did you have plastic surgery and where? I am the mom of a big kid. He is struggling so hard to find his place in the world. I would love for him to find the inner Tony and to stop feeding his addiction. I know because I feed mine. Thank you so much for sharing. WOW!

I want to live long, happy, healthy and to the fullest too! Thanks for sharing Kev. You are a true inspiration!

I love it they we can be so open and honest here....and tell when we eat something and it's really GOOD! I miss pizza. I miss chips and dip! Got weighed today and went up a pound. I am NOT going to change my ticker...NO WAY! My nutritionist (that I paid $170 for) told me to go back to smoothies and muscle milk and drink more water! Work out and sleep better. Ok. That is so easy. NOT! I'm going to try to make the committment again. Just like the yo-yo diet. Maybe I should change my handle to yo-yo cleo. LOL I meant....I love it that we can be so open and honest here....and tell when we eat something and it's really GOOD!

I've tried keeping journals of what I eat. It is never much. AM-Latte Lunchtime-Soup usually or a smoothie Dinner-Try to eat meat, maybe a small amount of carbs. I've totally given up diet pop. I really thought that would help. Occasionally I have a cookie or a mini chocolate bar, but nothing to keep me from loosing weight! UGH. Today I've had a latte, 8 wheat thins, 8oz of carrot juice and 16 oz of water. Heading now to have some more carrot juice (carb central, but loaded with vitamins) plus drink some more water. WHAT is your daily diet like? You are doing great!!!! WOW!!! ~M

Today I am burping like a sailor and all I've had is a latte and lots of water. Why is that? My friends are worried about me and are insisting that I go get my band loosened. I only have 1.2 cc's! And that was from my fill on Sept 9th. Doesn't some of the fill leak out? Am I going to get scar tissue? SO much to worry about!!!!!! I never had to do the pre-op diet because of my low BMI. After my burping goes down, I'm going to work on the chicken broth diet again. That and hot tea seem to work real well. ~M

Hi WA banders! Just want to say good morning and let you know I'm still alive and PB'ing! Michele

I am so glad you just posted that. I feel better now. I was banded 16 weeks ago today...so that would make me right on target! Thanks. My goal is 50 pounds total as well. Maybe on July 26th, 2007.... What's it like being smaller????

I was banded on July 26, 2006. I have lost 20 pounds (30 more to go). Like Rose, I am struggling. I had my first fill on Sept 9th and my "eating/not eating life" hasn't been the same since. Sometimes I get sick, sometimes I don't get sick. Just when I think I have a food or an amount figured out, BAM!...I'm wrong. For the most part, I know I can't eat bread or pasta. Chicken...NO WAY! So why can I eat Phad Thai? or why does popcorn go down so well? I haven't lost a pound in about 2 months. I think I'm loosing inches, but some days it feels like nothing has moved. I eat like a bird. Have I "NO" metabolism? Is my body panicing and storing all my fat so that it has fuel? So many people tell me sooooooooo many things about not eating. Then I read about one of you who are doing great! For example, like my new lap band friend in Alabama who was banded on the same day as I was. Surgery day, she is 170 & I am 173. Today she is 137 and I am barely under 160! Ugh! That's like only 13-15 pounds for me and 33 for her. HOW did that happen? Boy I am a whiney pee pants today. Sorry. I'm just glum because I am not doing well today and I am depresssed that my success isn't reaching as far as others. To those of you who are doing well....Congrads! To those of you struggling like me....thanks for your support! :-)

Hey WB's! Remember me? I'm not loosing weight much, but I'm loosing inches. Get this...I bought a pair of pants in a size....8! Ok so I'm sure they run big and the material is stretchy but it's been a LONG time since I was in a single digit size. Also, I am getting my fat/skin measured with a caliper (?) thing by my nutrition/trainer guy and I've gone down each of the 2 times since I first went. Food isn't agreeing with me much. I'm mostly on liquids and I eat like a bird. My metabolism must be at an all time low? It's amazing that I havent' made the scales drop. Not working out...I should. Not walking...I should. Who has time!!! UGH! Congrads Pammie on the NO smoking. That is fantastic! And it's so nice to hear that there is someone local that can fill us in! Take care and have a great night. Michele

I'm almost 3 months post op and I am happy to say that the gas pains are gone. I think each of us experience it differently. I had it too, in my shoulder, for about a month and a half. I also found that jogging on the treadmill made it worse during that time. Maybe doing some simple weight lifting? My trainer had me doing some arm and back exercises at the gym during post op time and it seemed to help. I did however stay away from any of the ab work. Three months post op, I can jog and work on the exercise ball. Just one problem....I'm not doing it enough

How did you use it? Did you sprinkle it on the chicken at a resturaunt? I'm having a terrible time with meat! UGH!!!!!!

If you can...upgrade to first class on the way home. It might be too late now but it is totally worth the money. Call the airlines and check how much. If I would have had the option, I would have paid $100 easy just for that seat if I knew what a difference it was going to make. I was lucky enough to get the last first class seat the day of the flight at the check in counter. What a difference it made on the ride home. My lucky seat cost me $50. The only bad part about it was that in first class they serve wonderful food that you won't be able to eat ;-(

I am interested. I started a 12 week program with someone at the local nutrition store 2 weeeks ago. I'm going in for my first weigh in on this Friday. My fear is that I'm not doing well. He recommends eating 6 small meals a day. Yeah right...like I can do that...hahaha. he does know that I have the lap band, so that is working in my favor. I have little self control. Terrified of scales. If my weigh has not gone down, I will feel like I have to punish myself and not eat for a week. Of course that would never happen, but I always feel bad when the scale goes north and not south. I have a gym membership and a great low cal smoothie drink so I'm ready!

May I ask why you have surgery tape?

ALICE...DIDN'T YOU GET THE HINT ALREADY??????????.....YOU ARE NOT GOING TO POST THIS TYPE OF INFO ON THE SITE. LORI DELETED IT THE LAST TIME AND SHE WILL DELETE IT AGAIN! Fellow lapbanders....please don't respond to this kind of forum topic! It's just a spam for sales. Thanks.

Cyndi and CalKev, Best of luck. I was banded July 27th and am very happy with my decision. I have a suggestion. When you get to the hotel on Monday, go to the grocery store down the street and pick up some water and some gatorade and crystal light. That way when you get back to the hotel after your surgery, all you have to do is throw them on ice and you are good to go. That was really helpful for me. There is wifi in the hotel I'm pretty sure. So if you have a laptop with a wireless card you can update us on your progress. There is wifi at the clinic too! Best if luck to both of you. Michele

Congradulations on your surgery! I think that getting back to normal is different for everyone. I was lucky and bounced back right away. Might I ask if you are taking a good vitamin? I went to the health food store and bought a liquid vitamin and started taking that right away. It was about $12 for a one week supply but it was totally worth it. I'll stop by the health food store today and see what the brand was for ya. Keep drinking lots of water and get plenty of rest. Have you heard or read about the benefits of Flaxseed Oil? I'm researching that and taking a tablespoon each day that I mix into my protein drink. It goes down much better that way. Looks gross though! Just some thoughts. Hang in there! Michele

You all are a hoot!!! Keep up the good work and let me know if you want to all arrange a fill trip to TJ together this late fall/winter. Come north to the Creek anytime. Your lap band buddy....Micheley

3:30 PM I'm heading out the door. If anyone gets lost or needs help finding the place, you can call me on my cell. 425.870.7747 See ya at 5! ~M

I found some name tags today I'll bring "if" we want to use them. Also, I still plan on bringing a blue balloon. See ya soon WA Banders!

My health educator (sounds so "offical"...LOL) said I need to eat 6 times a day. I'm not supposed to eat anything that doesn't fly or swim. So only white meat and no red. I need to drink plenty of water and do at least 30 minutes of cardio 3x a week. He also put me on a very strict meal plan eating 6 times a day. Check this out. I will eat at... 7am Breakfast of protein (about 3 oz) and a carb (like 1/2 cup oatmeal, nothing on it...boring) 9:30 am Most likely a protein shake (110 cal) 12 pm Lunch of a protein (3 oz) and carb (like 1/4 of a baked potatoe with nothing on it) and a green veg 3pm Most likely another protein shake 5:30pm dinner of a protein (3 more huge oz...lol) and a green veg 8 pm snack....possibly a tsp of organic peanut butter or a cup of plain popcorn Does it get any more exciting? Truly...you have to cut out sugar. Which I truly believe when eaten correctly or is it incorrecly , can pass through any band. Does anyone like frosting? Goes down real easy. I know, I tried it the other day. Ever clean off a knife when you are cutting the cake? Whip cream/cool whip...a dream. What is it about sugar? I just don't get it. It truly is an enemy. I hope this 12 week program works. I know my band might be a bit tight, but I'm willing to try this and see how it goes for now.

I think this is a great idea. Today I met with a Health Educator and started a 12 week program. I told the HE that I have had lapband surgery and he is researching great information for me. To make my adventure even better...his wife works for a gastric bypass surgeon and she is helping look at nutrition info for me. What luck! I would like to share this info on your forum, pending it works for me. Main thing I learned today... I must take a GOOD multi vitamin. NOT something like Centrum or Kirkland from Costco. It needs to be made with "whole foods" so it will be absorbed into the body better. I think nutrition is incredibly important now that I have been banded. My first fill has left me unable to eat hardly any solids. I could live on soup, but they are so creamy and full of calories. I'm learning to eat better, but still get nutrition. On my soapbox now, but I have to stand up and say that just because I was banded in July and got my first fill on 9/7/2006, I am still working on eating and "not eating" everyday. It's like a full time job. The wieght, for me, is not coming off easy. I hardly eat a thing and they scale does not move. We all paid a ton of $$$$ to get this surgery and I know I was hoping for results sooner. I barf alot. I burp even more. It's hard work this lap band. But all in all...I know it's worth it.

Would anyone object to me bringing a camera and taking some before photos?